BLCP Connections 6th Edition - Home Burlington Livable Community

April 7, 2009 Meet the Mayor… A Q & A With Mayor Bob Kiss
Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss shares his views and plans on livable community issues in the Queen City.
As you look at the city’s commitment to a livable community for older residents, what do you see as the top priority you want to address right away? In the short run, a top priority is to provide $75,000 as a city general fund appropriation in the FY10 budget for operation of the Heineberg and Champlain Senior Centers. Without this funding both centers are in financial jeopardy. Even with this funding, both centers still face a challenging financial future. Over the long run there needs to be a broad discussion inside and outside of government to find a Burlington solution that sustains high quality senior center services across the city. When you personally think about getting older, what kind of a community do you see as meeting your needs as an older resident of Burlington? Many of the suburban communities surrounding Phoenix focus on meeting elder needs as the attraction for new residents. But, contrary to this plan, the most popular suburban communities elders choose are the ones that focus on meeting the needs of families. In Burlington, at whatever age, we shape the future together. As I grow older, it’s clear to me why Burlington should be pedestrian friendly, have mass transportation that works well, carve out housing options that allow for down-sizing, affordability and easy living, pursue universal healthcare for all, and continue to build good jobs with good pay for everyone who wants or needs to work. With some of these core needs met we can take care of the rest. Many older residents are unable to fully participate in the community because of lack of transportation. What will you do in the next three years to provide more transportation options for people who choose not to drive or cannot drive?
CCTA, Car Share Vermont, and general support for Burlington to be a pedestrian friendly city are the best options we have for transportation solutions without owning a car. CCTA needs a funding source beyond property taxes to make mass transportation work. A regional focus on Chittenden County and access to a gas tax might do the trick. Car sharing is new to Burlington. But as it matures this option may successfully provide many elders access to a car without owning one. Linking these options to a safe street and sidewalk system for pedestrians--moves in the right direction. What do you see as the role of senior centers as the city’s population ages? Successful senior centers invite people in and provide opportunities and services they want. For people who are otherwise homebound—the capacity to transport people to a senior center is often a critical service. Most senior centers provide socializing, entertainment, meals, human services and advocacy among other options. Senior centers combat depression and isolation. With an aging population senior centers may become even more important hubs of activity in Burlington. The Champlain Senior Center on N. Winooski Avenue is co-located with The Children’s Space based on an assumption each age group will benefit and enjoy the other. It seems to work! How should Burlington meet the need for more affordable senior housing and what models should we be promoting as a community? Burlington offers a senior housing density bonus to encourage the development of new affordable senior housing. Accessory apartments are already allowed by city ordinance. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance that’s in process could encourage new affordable senior housing. My administration supports Cathedral Square Corporation and their plans to develop affordable senior housing at the former Thayer School/DMV site on North Avenue. As always, the Burlington Housing Authority will pursue every possible Section 8 subsidy to serve elderly and disabled people. And, HomeShare VT will continue its work with Burlington elders to successfully share their homes in order to remain in them.
News from our BLCP stakeholders…
Are you or a friend/relative looking for really affordable housing?? Check out HomeShare Vermont.
Choice of housing options is a desire of many Burlington residents as they get older. We are fortunate to have a robust homesharing program, cited as an example of innovative housing programs by publications like the New York Times.
Homesharing helps two people at once—it brings together those who want to remain in their homes (often seniors or adults with disabilities) with individuals who are looking for affordable housing. Each homeshare is a personalized blend of trading some services and/or rent for an affordable place to live. Typically, a student or person working outside the home is matched with a senior or other ―home provider‖; and they can provide either 10 hours a week of household assistance in exchange for a free room, or provide less service and make a contribution to household expenses. No two homeshares are alike! An important point to remember is that you choose who you want to live with, and HomeShare works with you to find just the right person.
Homes Available in Burlington:
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Share an apartment for no rent, no utilities with a delightful woman in her 40s with a disability. Seeking a dependable, upbeat person who can provide companionship, a protective presence and cooking 4 evenings per week (Monday through Thursday). Share a home with a woman in her 90s in the old north end. Provide a light evening meal and an overnight presence, and, in exchange, pay no rent or utilities. A quick walk from downtown!
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Check out more listings at the HomeShare website and find out if homesharing is right for you! 802-863-5625 Housing Choices for Seniors HomeShare Vermont is teaming up with Cathedral Square Corporation (CSC) to offer monthly workshops for seniors and families members about various housing options available. Topics include senior housing choices, a review of services enabling elders to stay at home and paying for long-term care. ―The key to successful planning, is thinking ahead‖, said Nancy Eldridge of Cathedral Square. ―These workshops are best for people who are 1-2 years away from major changes but who are trying to plan ahead and consider their options‖. The workshops are offered in the Conference Room at 412 Farrell Street in South Burlington. The next workshops are June 4, at 12:00, and July 30, at 5:00 pm. To pre-register
please call 863-2224. Space is limited. These one hour workshops are offered thanks to the generous support of the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation.
2009 VerMontreal Bike Tour - June 4-7, 2009
You are invited to join Local Motion's Fifth Annual VerMontreal Bike Tour from South Hero to Montreal on the first weekend in June. This year's tour will travel along the New York State side of Lake Champlain crossing to Plattsburgh on the Grand Isle Ferry. Our group of 60 riders will proceed along the Richelieu River to Montreal where the weekend will culminate in our group participation in the famed Tour de l'Ile. Participants will explore the Champlain Bikeway, Quebec's Green Route, Yamaska Park and such historic areas like Fort Lennox and Fort Chambly. There will be two different rides: the 4 day tour (210 miles, June 4 to 7) will bike up to St. Jean sur Richelieu, going north and east into the Monteregie Region where we will lunch and take a tour of the Chocolate Museum, ride the scenic dedicated bicycle routes through Yamaska Park and stay in a lovely hotel and spa in Granby. The 3 day ride (110 miles, June 5 to 7) will stay Friday night in St. Jean and then onto Montreal on Saturday morning joining up with the 4 day tour at the Grand Hotel on Sherbrook. On Sunday morning after an elaborate buffet breakfast, the combined groups will be off to the Tour de l'Ile or rides may opt for an alternative ride on one of Montreal's 200 miles of Bike Paths. Be part of this international celebration!! Visit the following links for more information and registration. Click here for a tour overview.
Good News Garage Can Make the Difference
Good News Garage (GNG) helps hundreds of low-income working Vermonters every year get to their job so they can provide for their family. GNG is one of the first low-income-car-ownership programs in the country.
GNG is a non-profit founded in 1996 in Burlington, Vermont under the leadership of Hal Colston (AARP Vermont executive council member) along with others including Lutheran Social Services. GNG’s Jumpstart Program repairs donated cars, trucks and vans and provides them to low-income working people who need affordabledependable transportation. To qualify for this program, a single working parent must earn below $14,000 a year. Most of Jumpstart recipients don’t qualify for public assistance and are at risk of losing their job if they can’t find transportation to bring their child to childcare and get to and from work in a timely manner. The costs of running GNG’s low-income car ownership program are covered by: auctioning off some of the donated vehicles, many charitable donations and a contribution from the vehicle recipients. GNG is always looking for car donations and volunteers to help in the office. To donate and learn more about donating your vehicle visit here or call toll-free 877-448-3288. All vehicle donations are tax deductible. To have an ambassador of Good News Garage come and talk about the Jumpstart Program with your organization, business, or church, contact Marketing Manager, Carmen George at 802-864-3667 extension 13.
AARP Releases New Study Setting Basic Needs Affordability Baseline
In early 1960s Mollie Orshansky of the Social Security Administration came up a way to determine poverty thresholds based on minimum requirements for nutrition. This analysis is still the fundamental foundation of what we now call the ―federal poverty level.‖ As we all face the consequences of our flagging economy, the federal poverty level or FPL becomes even more important and in many ways more punishing. FPL is used to determine eligibility for just about every public assistance program. Yet we know the basic costs of living for older Vermonters far exceed the poverty levels set by the federal government. A new study released by AARP Vermont details the costs for elders to meet the basic needs of living here, and establishes an affordability baseline
called the Elder Economic Security Standard (EESS). Similar to the process of setting a livable wage calculation for Vermont workers, this data highlights the heavy economic burden on older residents (retired residents over age 65). It factors in the costs of housing, food, transportation, health care, and a host of miscellaneous expenses such as furniture, clothing, telephone and household supplies, etc. Despite FPL being set at an unrealistically low level, AARP found that 40 percent of Vermonters age 75 or older have incomes less than 200% of the FPL or $29,000 per year. Government must do its part to make sure older Vermonters live with dignity throughout their lives. AARP is working to make sure public assistance programs do not bear the brunt of state budget cuts. Click here to see the full press release.
Burlington Election Results
Burlington’s newly elected city councilors were officially seated on April 6th and a new council president was elected. No party holds a majority of seats, with the Democrats falling one vote shy after the election of a Republican in the Ward 7 runoff. Longtime councilors Kurt Wright, Jane Knodell, Tim Ashe, and Andy Montroll will be gone and replaced with a fresh set of faces – four of them women. Below is the list of councilors and how to reach them. Burlington City Council
Ward 1
Ed Adrian (2010) (D) 35 Brookes Ave Burlington, VT 05401 862-9851 (h) 233-2131 (c) eadrian@comcast.net
Ward 2
Sharon Foley Bushor (2011) (I) 52 East Avenue Burlington, VT 05401 658-3604 (h) sharonbushor@comcast.net
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (2011) (P) 20 Oak Street #2 Burlington, VT 05401 999-6723 (c) emmajms@gmail.com
David Berezniak (2010) (D) 52 Willow Street Burlington, VT 05401 863-2598 (h) davidsframeshop@aol.com
Ward 3
Marrisa S. Caldwell (2011) (P) 204 Park Street Burlington, VT 05401 578-7325(c) Marrisa.Caldwell@gmail.com
Ward 4
Clarence Davis (2010) (P) 21 Lafayette Place #2 Burlington, VT 05401 238-1155 (h) clarencedavis@burlingtontelecom.net
Russell Ellis (2010) (D) 328 Shore Road Burlington, VT 05408 862-4584 (h) rrellis@burlingtontelecom.net
Ward 5
Nancy C. Kaplan (2011) (D) 54 Muirfield Road Burlington, VT 05408 862-8807 (h) nckaplan@gmail.com
William J Keogh (2010) (D) 21 Alder Lane Burlington, VT 05401 862-5270 (h) bkeoghsr@yahoo.com
Ward 6
Joan Shannon (2011) (D) 41 Central Avenue Burlington, VT 05401 860-7489 (h & w) jshannon@burlingtontelecom.net
Mary Kehoe (2011) (D) 27 Kingsland Terrace Burlington, VT 05401 862-5520 (h) kehoeforcouncil@gmail.com
Ward 7
Karen Paul (2010) (I) 171 Crescent Road Burlington, VT 05401 863-3817 (h) paulfin@sover.net
Paul Decelles (2010) (R) 96 Gosse Court Burlington, VT 05408 658-4367 pdecelles@comcast.net
Vincent Dober, Sr. (2011) (R) 82 Heineberg Road Burlington, VT 05408 865-4907 (h) doberv@burlingtontelecom.net